Old Navy Tweed Jacket (similar here and here) // Joe Fresh Polka Dot Top (similar here) // The Limited Jeans (similar here and here) // Lulu's Suede Heels (similar here and here) // Sam Moon Snake Skin Clutch (similar here and here) // Lookbook Mirror Belt c/o // Target Pave Bracelet // Kendra Scott Ring c/o The Jeweler's Wife // Micheal Kors Watch c/o The Jeweler's Wife // Ameera Noor Tassel Necklace c/o
I am here today in simple form with a classic style and ideas about what I want from the new year that has landed upon us.
I really did sit down and brainstorm on what I wanted to share in this first post of 2014. Quite frankly, zero brilliant topics came to mind. I guess the holiday hangover is still lingering. Being on the road, traveling off and on for over a week, I have had a lot of drive time to reflect on and digest the last year and what I wanted to change and continue to pursue.
There is something so refreshing about starting a new year. You leave things behind, you wipe your slate clean, so to speak, and you set new goals and ambitions for yourself. I have never been one to make resolutions. To me, it's way too much pressure and setting yourself up for failure. Instead, I write down things I want to work on, strive for and do to become a better person, wife, mother, friend and follower of Christ.
When I was driving to the deer lease on Sunday morning, I listened to my pastor's live sermon on my iPhone. Driving down back roads alone with Him and His word really hit me more than any other message I have heard at church all year long. The topic was peace. Finding peace through Him is the only way we can successfully live a life of happiness and contentment.
So, my one goal, not a resolution, is to with a full heart, find peace in places where it's lacking in my life.
I didn't realize how much this whole peace thing resonated with me until I listened to the sermon. I am not just talking about deep and complicated topics either.
It's as simple as not getting in a tizzy because my kids are messy aliens and destroy our house in 2.2 seconds. Or because Ross brought home a dog that immediately stole my heart and then shipped him off to bird dog school for two months that left me broken hearted. Realizing that I am not a bad mom or wife because I don't whip up home cooked meals every night. Being okay with not being a lover of working out and probably never will be. Accepting the fact that I am totally unorganized, a little messy and that everything doesn't have to have it's place. Not feeling guilty about hitting delete on emails because they can't all possibly be answered even if we had double the hours in a day. Reminding myself that blogging isn't the end all be all and it will eventually run it's course.
Of course, there are a few deeper, underlying pieces of my life that I need to let go of and work harder at as well. It's going to be a work in progress and daily reminder of finding the calm in life's ups and downs.
I am ready to embrace solitude and serenity, to not harbor moments or circumstances that I cannot change, but move forward with a positive outlook, heart and spirit in 2014.
I challenge you to do the same.
And as corny as this may sound or seem, take the advice of Disney's Frozen and Demi Lovato and "Let It Go".
